Geoegb w



(No Model.) w G. W. RICHARDSON.

STEAM MUFLER.

No. 344,863. Patented July 6, 1886.

N PETERS. Phuxn-Lwh'agrapher. washmgmn, D. C.

JNTTEn STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE XV. RICHARDSON, OF MEDFORI), MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONSOLIDATED SAFETY VALVE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONN.

STEAM-MUFFLER.

A pplieaiinn filcd February 10, 1836. Serial No. lll-2,540. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BiermansoN, of lliedford, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Mulllers, or' which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

io Ily invention has relation to that class of devices employed for mu'ltling or subduing the noise of escaping steam, ordinarily known as mufl'lers or "'steain-niuiliers,77 and especially to that kind usually employed in coni5 nection with steam safety-valves, though for all purposes of the present invention the improved muftler may be employed in any situation to niu'l'fle or subdue the noise of escaping steam or air or gases.

The object ot' my invention is to so construct the mufiler that it will be simple, cheap, and effective, and so that it will obviate the rusting or deterioration of metallic parts, caused by contact t-herewith of steam or moisture, thus enabling me to construct many of the parts or pieces in and about the muflier or the device with which it is used of iron or steel, preserving the requisite lasting qualities, and securing cheapness of construction and 3o other advantages, as will hereinafter appear.

To accomplish this my improvements involve certain new and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements or combinations ofparts, and principles of operation,

all' of which will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

To illustrate my invention I have shown the niuifller applied in connection with the easing of a steam safety-valve.

.to In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a. vertical section and partial elevation of a steam safety-valve easin having my improved inul'tler applied thereon. Fig. 2 is a vertical View or elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 a

.t5 top or plan view.

In all these figures like letters of reference, wherever` they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

A. represents the lower part of the casing,

which surrounds any safety-valve, and within 5o which steam rises after escaping past the valve, as is well understood.

3 is the casing` usually made to surround the valve-loading spring, as O.

The main body ofthe mufller is made up ot a series of annular disks, (represented atl) 1),) which may be of any desired number, in the drawings shown to be six. rlhese disks surround tne casing I3, each having a vertical exterior flange iitted to abut against the flange 6o ofthe disk next adjacent, thus forming the exterior wall of the muffler, an d each having its horizontal portion perforated for the passage of steam. rihe mullling effect is best produced by arranging the disks so that the perforations in one will not fall beneath or over the perforations in that next adjacent. The form of these disks has been set forth in a previous application for patent, tiled December 2, 1885, Serial No. 18st, 582, and I make no claim herein 7o to their form or arrangement, which, so far as the present invention is concerned, may be considerably modified. Over the top disk of the series is a perforated covering-plate, E, which carries a standard, F, cast with plate E, upon which standard the lifting-lever G is hinged or fulcru med, and a guidingstandard, H, on the side opposite F. rlhe lever maybe ofthe first or second order. The standard II may be supplied with a pin, as a, or other 8o suitable stop by which the lever is arrested in its upward movement. The lever, instead of being forked, may be made solid, and the guidiiig-standard replaced by a pair of stand` ards, if desired. These standards, however, S5 are not essential parts of the invention, and may be omitted or changed at pleasure.

Heretofore the muffler, top plate, valve case, and'springcase have been commonly made ot' brass or iron. I have discovered 9o that by making the muffler-rings of Zinc, or of a compound in which Zinc predominates, they may be easier turned, perforated, and fitted, and when applied in connection with or in contact with brass or other metal a galvanic or electric current is established through the whole, and this operates in a singularly effective manner to prevent rusting of the spring or any parts made of iron or steel, and largely to prevent deterioration of otherparts, and the current and the beneficial effects thereof are greatly enhanced whenever the 5 current of steam passes through the muier. I therefore make the rings or disks of zinc or of a compound in which zinc enters largely-the more zinc the better the effect; and this, then, makes it practical to form the 1o valve-casing of iron, which is much cheaper than the brass heretofore regarded as practically necessary. The valve-spring (of steel) is, by the peculiar action of the zinc or the current consequent upon its use, preserved from rust, and thus made more lasting and durable.

The valvespring is a vital element of the structure. Any deterioration of the spring weakens it and changes the load on the valve. The necessity and desirability of preserving the spring will be readily appreciated.

The top plate I am enabled by this invention to make of iron or steel, which, besides the advantages of cheapness and ease of con- 5 struction, has other highly-important advantages. It will be observed that the top plate is employed to hold the rings down, and is itself held down by a nut, Z1, bearing upon its top, and engaging withthe adjusting-screw c, o by which' the tension of the spring is regulated. In other situations than upon a steam safety-valve the top plate is held down in some analogous or equivalentmanner. When made of brass, this top plate becomes heated by escaping steam, and by reason of some inherent quality of the. metal becomes set and hardened by the heat, jamming the holdingnut so that it is difficult to remove, and in the situation indicated making it difficult to turn 4o the adjusting-screw, besides rendering the plate liable to fracture as soon as the nut is turned in either direction. Without. the protecting influence of the zinc this plate would be required to be made of brass; but with the zinc I am enabled to make it of iron or steel, 4 5 which is not liable to be changed in character by the heat, andwhich will obviate all the disadvantages above enumerated and secure the desired cheapness and ease of construction. I therefore make this plate of iron or steel. 5o So, also, with the adjusting or tension screw, the nuts, and other parts of the struc-ture, any and all of which may be made of iron or steel, being protected against rust in the manner indicated.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. In a muffler of the character herein set forth, the rings or disks made of zinc or a compound in which zinc predominates, and mounted upon or in connection with other metals, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In-a muffler of the character herein set forth, the combination, with'the rings or disks made of zinc, of the top plate made of iron or steel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a mufiler of the character herein set forth, the combination, with the rings or disks 

